News

Jan 16, 2019
— A new nuclear medicine method for detecting malignant melanoma, one of the most aggressive skin cancers, has been successfully tested for the first time in humans and could improve detection of both primary and metastatic melanoma. The research is featured in the January 2019 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jan 2, 2019
— The January 2019 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about VT substrate characteristics,18F-flortanidazole PET in treated NSCLC, 18F-P3BZA PET/CT in melanoma, and more. Also, check out the second in the "Discussions with Leaders" series: a conversation with Richard Wahl.

Dec 11, 2018
— New research shows that molecular imaging—specifically, PSMA PET/MR—performs as well as currently used tools and provides additional information on tumor location that could help guide treatment for prostate cancer patients.

Dec 3, 2018
— The December 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about three novel tau radiopharmaceuticals for imaging patients with amyloid-positive Alzheimer disease, whole-body 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MR, immuno-PET after BACE-1 inhibition, and more. Also, check out the first in a new series of articles: "Discussions with Leaders."

Nov 8, 2018
— A nuclear medicine imaging procedure can pinpoint prostate cancer with superior accuracy, allowing more precisely targeted treatment, according to new research featured in the November 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 5, 2018
— New research shows PET imaging with the 18F-FAC radiotracer can be used as a non-invasive substitute for liver biopsies. The study is featured in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 1, 2018
— The November 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about c-Met-targeted imaging of non-small cell lung cancer, Ga-68-PSMA-11 PET/CT for radiation treatment planning, the current state of radiopharmaceutical therapy, and more.

Oct 30, 2018
— Technetium-99m is responsible for 80 percent of the nuclear medical imaging procedures performed in the world. This year marks its 60th anniversary, and Brookhaven National Laboratories is celebrating.

Oct 25, 2018
— The American Medical Association (AMA) has an expert panel called the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), which advocates for accurate valuation of all physician services. If you receive a request from SNMMI to participate in an AMA RUC survey, it is imperative that you participate so your voice can be heard.

Oct 4, 2018
— New research shows PET imaging with the 18F-FAC radiotracer can be used as a non-invasive substitute for liver biopsies. The study is featured in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Sep 27, 2018
— The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held its fall meeting of the Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) on September 20th and 21st. It addressed several topics of importance to SNMMI, including training and experience requirements, nursing mother guidelines, and compounding of sterile and non-sterile radiopharmaceuticals.

Sep 26, 2018
— USP is hosting an open microphone session Wednesday, October 10th, 2018 to discuss the Proposed General Chapter <825> on radiopharmaceuticals. Registration is currently open and there is no cost to participate.

Sep 7, 2018
— Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has become a popular method for determining the stage of a patient’s prostate cancer. However, researchers have identified a major pitfall in this imaging technique and are cautioning medical professionals to be aware of the potential for misdiagnosis.

Sep 5, 2018
— A new nuclear medicine imaging method could help diagnose widespread tumors, such as breast, colon, pancreas, lung and head and neck cancer better than current methods, with less inconvenience to patients and with equal or improved accuracy.

Aug 13, 2018
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), an international scientific and medical organization, recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2018 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

Aug 6, 2018
— In metastatic breast cancer, prognosis and treatment is largely influenced by estrogen receptor (ER) expression of the metastases. However, little is known about ER expression across metastases throughout the body and surrounding normal tissue. Using a PET tracer, researchers in the Netherlands have been able to identify differences in ER expression, which could help guide treatment for metastatic breast cancer patients. The study is featured in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s August issue.

Aug 2, 2018
— Researchers have discovered a new nuclear medicine test that could improve care of patients with type 1 diabetes. The new PET imaging method could measure beta-cell mass, which would greatly enhance the ability to monitor and guide diabetes therapies. This study is reported in the featured article of the month in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s August issue.

Aug 2, 2018
— The August 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about a PET imaging method to track and guide therapies for type 1 diabetes, 18F-FES PET to assess heterogeneity of estrogen receptor expression in breast cancer patients, a theranostic approach for small-volume ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis, and more!

Jul 30, 2018
— SNMMI’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role that SNMMI-TS members play in advancing the discipline of nuclear medicine technology.

Jul 27, 2018
— A summary of this new chapter on radiopharmaceuticals is provided here. SNMMI had recommended that a new chapter be established and now looks forward to reviewing it and providing comments. Members are also encouraged to submit comments.

Jul 19, 2018
— In a letter to the Senate and House subcommittees on Energy and Water Development, SNMMI President Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, joined with leaders of other medical societies, patient groups, radiopharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, and medical imaging companies to urge support of a provision in both the Senate and House bills that would provide $20 million in additional funding to continue establishing domestic production of Mo-99.

Jul 18, 2018
— Designed specifically for technologists, the new Anatomy Webinar Series features detailed explanations of how tracers affect anatomical structures and what is considered normal and abnormal biodistribution. Each section of the body has a presentation displaying anatomical notations useful in a clinical setting.

Jul 10, 2018
— SNMMI together with representatives from ACNM and ASTRO offered recommendations for potential updates to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s requirements for those who wish to be authorized users of unsealed byproduct material.

Jul 9, 2018
— A new PET imaging method more fully evaluates the extent of rheumatoid arthritis by targeting translocator protein (TSPO) expression in the synovium (joint lining tissue). The study is featured in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jul 2, 2018
— In a mouse model, researchers have demonstrated that a novel, affibody-based pretargeted radionuclide therapy for HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)-expressing cancers is non-toxic to the kidneys and improves survival. The study is reported in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s July featured article of the month.

Jul 1, 2018
— The July 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about radionuclide therapy of HER2-expressing human xenografts using an affibody molecule-based PNA-mediated pretargeting; translocator protein as an imaging marker of macrophage and stromal activation in RA pannus; the effects of fasting on 18F-DCFPyL uptake in prostate cancer lesions and tissues with known high physiologic uptake; and more.

Jun 28, 2018
— More than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors gathered for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 65th Annual Meeting, held June 23-26 in Philadelphia. With nuclear medicine playing a growing role in providing precision medicine, theranostics (combining diagnostic imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy) were an important focus throughout the meeting.

Jun 26, 2018
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging recognized 14 new SNMMI Fellows on June 25 during a Special Plenary Session at the society’s 2018 Annual Meeting, held June 23-26 in Philadelphia.

Jun 26, 2018
— In the battle against metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, studies have demonstrated a high response rate to radionuclide therapy targeting PSMA with the radionuclide lutetium-177. At the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting, researchers reported on a phase II prospective trial. Using gallium-68-PSMA11 PET imaging, men who had exhausted conventional therapies were screened. Those with high PSMA-expression proceeded to 177Lu-PSMA617 (LuPSMA) therapy and experienced high response rates, which is clearly demonstrated in the PSMA PET imaging figure selected as the 2018 SNMMI Image of the Year.

Jun 26, 2018
— Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, has been elected as the 2018-2019 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2018 Annual Meeting, June 23–26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jun 26, 2018
— Research presented at the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting demonstrates for the first time the benefit of providing earlier lutetium-177 prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligand therapy to patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Until now, this therapy has only been used in patients with end-stage disease.

Jun 26, 2018
— The addition of fluorine-18-fluciclovine PET/CT to the diagnostic work-up of patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer locates previously undetected lesions and changes treatment management for the majority of patients, according to a clinical trial report presented at the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting.

Jun 25, 2018
— Alan Packard, PhD, has been elected as 2018-19 vice president-elect of SNMMI. He is associate professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School, director of radiopharmaceutical research and a senior research associate in nuclear medicine at Boston Children's Hospital, and a research associate in nuclear medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jun 25, 2018
— Vasken Dilsizian, MD, professor of radiology and medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, has assumed office as 2018-19 president-elect of SNMMI.

Jun 25, 2018
— A novel, intelligent theranostic agent for precise tumor diagnosis and therapy has been developed that remains as small molecules while circulating in the bloodstream, can then self-assemble into larger nanostructures in the tumor, and be activated by the tumor microenvironment for therapy guided by photoacoustic imaging. The research was presented at the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting.

Jun 25, 2018
— Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, has assumed office as 2018-19 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2018 Annual Meeting, June 23–26 in Philadelphia.

Jun 25, 2018
— Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, known for his pioneering work in multimodality molecular imaging, was awarded the Benedict Cassen Prize during the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in Philadelphia, Pa. This honor is awarded every two years by the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in recognition of outstanding achievement and work leading to a major advance in nuclear medicine science.

Jun 24, 2018
— Simon R. Cherry, PhD, Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Davis, has been named the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Cherry was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its Annual Meeting, June 23-26 in Philadelphia, PA.

Jun 24, 2018
— Richard L. Wahl, MD, FACNM, FACR, has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for his contributions to nuclear medicine. Wahl is the Elizabeth E. Mallinckrodt Professor and head of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, director of the university’s Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology and a professor of radiation oncology. He was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2018 Annual Meeting, June 23-26 in Philadelphia.

Jun 24, 2018
— A new molecular imaging method can monitor the success of gene therapy in all areas of the brain, potentially allowing physicians to more effectively tackle brain conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. The research was presented today at the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting, June 23-26 in Philadelphia.

Jun 24, 2018
— A novel nuclear medicine approach is showing great promise for precision treatment of solid tumors in many types of cancer—including lung, breast, pancreas and ovarian in adults and glioma, neuroblastoma and sarcoma in children. The research was presented today at the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting, June 23-26 in Philadelphia.

Jun 24, 2018
— New nuclear medicine tracers could help medical researchers find a cure for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The research was presented today at the SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting, June 23-26 in Philadelphia.

Jun 24, 2018
— Research presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) shows that combining targeted radionuclide therapy with immunotherapy could improve the survival of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Jun 23, 2018
— A novel positron emission tomography (PET) tracer has been developed that can accurately image cardiovascular infections, which are extremely dangerous and have a high fatality rate. The research was presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 20, 2018
— As we approach the SNMMI Annual Meeting, we are ending a productive and exciting year! SNMMI and SNMMI-TS moved forward on many key issues and activities that affect imaging research and practice, with the ultimate goal of delivering the best possible care to patients. Take a few minutes to read this brief Year in Review with 20 highlights of SNMMI and SNMMI-TS accomplishments.

Jun 12, 2018
— The American Medical Association (AMA) has an expert panel called the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), which advocates for accurate valuation of all physician services. If you receive a request from SNMMI to participate in an AMA RUC survey, it is imperative that you participate so your voice can be heard.

Jun 6, 2018
— Researchers have shown that a new nuclear medicine procedure could safely and more effectively detect cancerous gastrointestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors than current methods. The study is featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jun 4, 2018
— A novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging method shows promise for noninvasively pinpointing sites of inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), study is featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jun 1, 2018
— The June 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about small proteins for radionuclide imaging; novel PET imaging methods, including for pinpointing sites of inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease and for more effectively identifying GEP-NETs; and more!

May 31, 2018
— The SNMMI 2018 Annual Meeting will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA, June 23–26. It will bring together physicians, technologists, pharmacists and scientists from around the globe to share research, network, and collaborate on “Imaging the Future of Human Health.”

May 29, 2018
— SNMMI, the Mayo Clinic, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have jointly filed comments with the FDA with recommendations for regulatory changes that would make it easier for patients with GEP-NETs to obtain arginine and lysine--amino acids that can mitigate side effects of Lu-177 DOTATATE therapy.

May 22, 2018
— The training path for nuclear medicine physicians is an important and ongoing topic of discussion for the field. To advance this discussion, Satoshi Minoshima, MD, and Richard L. Wahl, MD, FACNM, have developed a continuing education session for the 2018 SNMMI Annual Meeting in Philadelphia (June 23-26), which will also be available through the Virtual Meeting.

May 21, 2018
— SNMMI recently advocated on behalf of members and their patients at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) workgroup public meeting. Lu-177-dotatate, Ga-68-dotatate, and Fl-18-fluciclovine are all delivered by pharmacies in per-study doses, not per-unit doses; SNMMI requested that CMS modify the coding descriptors for payment accordingly.

May 17, 2018
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Value Initiative Industry Alliance brings members of the corporate community to the table as key players in building the future of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and demonstrating to the medical community, regulators, patients and the public their crucial role in delivering the highest quality of care.

May 14, 2018
— The 2018 SNMMI Annual Meeting will again include SNMMI TV programs on each day of the conference covering the previous day's events. The program will feature interviews of key leaders and researchers, interwoven with in-depth reports on featured institutions, session coverage, and attendee surveys.

May 8, 2018
— Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School are surveying practicing nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists to determine when and why PET/CTs are performed for inpatients. The survey is brief and anonymous. Please participate now!

May 3, 2018
— A novel PET tracer developed by Korean researchers can visualize joint inflammation and could provide early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, a common autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of joints and can lead to deformity and dysfunction. The study is reported in the featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s May issue.

May 1, 2018
— The May 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about a novel theranostic approach for treating pancreatic cancer, a PET imaging agent for early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, selecting the right PET radiotracer for prostate cancer, recent developments in diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, and more!

May 1, 2018
— German researchers have developed a novel diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) procedure for patients with ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a deadly cancer with an extremely poor prognosis (five-year survival rate of less than 5 percent) and limited treatment options. The study is featured in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Apr 18, 2018
— Dopamine transporter (DaT) imaging, with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), is used to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. To help patients who are scheduled for a DaT SPECT procedure, SNMMI’s Brain Imaging Outreach Working Group created a video that takes the patient through what happens at each step.

Apr 11, 2018
— SNMMI and the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging are pleased to announce that Aria Razmaria, MD, has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Robert E. Henkin Government Relations Fellowship.

Apr 6, 2018
— A PET imaging agent could show, ahead of time, whether a specific treatment is likely to be effective for major depressive disorder—a debilitating condition that affects more than 14 million Americans. No such marker is currently available in clinical psychiatry. The study is featured in the April issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Apr 2, 2018
— Researchers have developed a new PET imaging agent that could help guide and assess treatments for people with various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. The agent targets receptors in nerve cells in the brain that are involved in learning and memory. The study is featured in the April issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Apr 1, 2018
— The April 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about new PET tracers—one that could help guide therapy for brain diseases and another that could help predict treatment effectiveness for depression, PET/CT in local ablative therapies, challenges in nuclear endocrinology and more!

Mar 31, 2018
— On this day in 1941, Dr. Saul Hertz administered the very first radioactive iodine therapy to a patient with Graves' Disease. This pivotal treatment was the index case for what we today know as radioactive iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism, and it validated the concept that is now known as theranostics.

Mar 23, 2018
— Buried in the Budget Bill that was just signed into law is a provision that provides some high-value radiopharmaceuticals partial and temporary relief. It also mandates that the Government Accountability Office study the problems with reimbursement for these drugs and report back to Congress.

Mar 22, 2018
— Representatives of SNMMI, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the European Thyroid Association (ETA) and American Thyroid Association (ATA) met at the Multilateral Conference on Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and began working collaboratively on issues related to the care of patients with thyroid cancer, with particular focus on radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy.

Mar 21, 2018
— SNMMI, the World Molecular Imaging Society (WMIS), and the American College of Radiology (ACR) are recommending that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reconsider the current restrictive coverage policy for NaF PET imaging to identify bone metastases, which can inform treatment strategy.

Mar 15, 2018
— Patients advocates with a wide range of health conditions—including neuroendocrine tumors, lymphoma and cancers of the lung, breast, and prostate—flew into Washington, DC, for March 14 meetings on Capitol Hill to urge support for a bill that would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reclassify diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals as drugs. Patients rely on the radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosing and monitoring their conditions, as well as guiding therapy.

Mar 14, 2018
— Starting in April, at least one scientific article in each issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (JNMT) will be selected for discussion by the new JNMT Twitter Club (@JNMTClub). Participants read the article before the club meets, then discusses it via Twitter, using #JNMTclub in each tweet. (1 CE hour can be earned via the short post-exam.)

Mar 13, 2018
— The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held its spring meeting of the Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) on March 7 and 8, 2018. It addressed several topics of importance to SNMMI, including worldwide supply and domestic production of Mo-99 and training and experience requirements.

Mar 9, 2018
— USP (United States Pharmacopeia) is seeking technical and scientific experts and healthcare practitioners in the pharmaceutical, biologics, and food and dietary supplements industries, academia, regulatory and government sectors to volunteer for USP’s Council of Experts and Expert Committees.

Mar 1, 2018
— The March 2018 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine is now available. Read about a PET imaging agent that assesses PD-L1-positive tumors and another that targets copper in prostate cancer tumors, patient management after NaF PET, dual-targeted molecular imaging and more!

Mar 1, 2018
— Researchers have developed a same-day, noninvasive PET-based imaging approach to assess PD-L1 positive tumors, which could help guide cancer treatment decisions and assess treatment response. The study is presented in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s March issue.

Feb 23, 2018
— SNMMI’s 2018 Annual Meeting—the premier educational, scientific and networking event for the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging community—will be held in Philadelphia, PA, June 23–26. There's much that's new this year, including a number of features added in response to member feedback: a condensed 4-day meeting, nuts-and-bolts sessions, interactive training showcases in the Exhibit Hall and more! We also welcome China as the Highlight Country!

Feb 13, 2018
— SNMMI's Cardiovascular Council and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) have issued the joint position paper, Clinical Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow Using PET, which was jointly published in the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology and The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Feb 6, 2018
— According to a study published in the February issue of Radiology, imaging specialists who have performed nuclear medicine exams appear to be at higher risk of developing cataracts. SNMMI and SNMMI-TS place the highest importance on the safety of nuclear medicine professionals and are monitoring this issue, as well as any other potential nuclear medicine-related health risks to professionals in the field.

Feb 5, 2018
— Using nuclear medicine, German researchers have found a way to accurately differentiate cancerous tissue from healthy tissue in prostate cancer patients. The research is highlighted in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Feb 5, 2018
— SNMMI has concerns that a prolonged shutdown of NTP could impact global availability of Mo-99 and has requested that South Africa prioritize its review and approval for NTP to resume operation.

Feb 1, 2018
— A nuclear medicine scan may locate prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy early after disease recurrence and could help guide salvage radiotherapy, according to new research from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). The study, which utilizes PET/CT with gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA-11), is documented in the featured article in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jan 31, 2018
— During SNMMI’s Mid-Winter Meeting in Orlando, Florida, both SNMMI and SNMMI-TS held leadership academies. These academies are building a cadre of physicians, scientists and technologists with strong leadership abilities who are taking on active roles in the society at the chapter and national levels, as well as within the nuclear medicine and molecular imaging community. Congratulations to all the new graduates!

Jan 25, 2018
— SNMMI has been working with state Technologist Advocacy Group (TAG) representatives to promote licensure and the new Nuclear Medicine Technologist Scope of Practice and Performance Standards. Read about recent successes and current efforts.

Jan 23, 2018
— With the temporary stoppage of Mo-99 production at South Africa’s NTP Radioisotopes and the unexpected shutdown of Australia’s OPAL reactor, the Association of Imaging Producers & Equipment Suppliers (AIPES) expects there could be an approximately 15-percent shortfall in Mo-99 to meet world demand over the next one-to-two weeks. The good news is that safeguards in place for the Mo-99 supply pipeline are working as anticipated to cover just such unexpected stoppages.

Jan 18, 2018
— The SNMMI Committee on Procedure Standards, chaired by Dominique Delbeke, MD, PhD, FSNMMI, is working with its counterpart at EANM and other partner organizations to update joint procedure standards and develop guidelines for new procedures.

Jan 16, 2018
— Jeri Francoeur has joined the SNMMI's Patient Advocacy Advisory Board, representing the Susan G. Komen Foundation. A breast cancer survivor who also lost a close friend to the disease, she is a passionate advocate for breast cancer research and funding, as well as patient education on treatment options.

Jan 9, 2018
— Kathy Thomas, MHA, CNMT, PET, FSNMMI-TS, is the new editor of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (JNMT), which is published by the technologist section of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). She has taken over leadership of JNMT from Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, and her five-year term begins January 2018.

Jan 8, 2018
— Researchers at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, have demonstrated that a new radiotracer, F-18-FDS, can identify and track bacterial infection in lungs better than current imaging methods and is able to differentiate bacterial infection from inflammation. The study is the featured basic science article in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jan 4, 2018
— SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for somatostatin receptor PET imaging in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), addressing several clinical scenarios for diagnosing NETs. This AUC is part of a new series developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging.

Jan 3, 2018
— The new total-body PET/CT scanner could revolutionize our understanding and treatment of disease through analysis of better imaging data from the whole body. In The Journal of Nuclear Medicine featured January article, scientists at the University of California, Davis, outline the development and benefits of this innovative diagnostic tool and explain how maximizing PET sensitivity will advance clinical research and patient care.

Dec 21, 2017
— Frederic H. Fahey, DSc, FSNMMI, and S. Ted Treves, MD, accepted the 2017 Butterfly Award on behalf of the Image Gently Nuclear Medicine Working Group at the recent Image Gently Alliance meeting. Congratulations to the Nuclear Medicine Working Group for its efforts to improve the radionuclide imaging of children through the right dose, given the right way to the right patient at the right time!

Dec 18, 2017
— A Medicare administrative contractor in the southern U.S. has agreed to a recommendation from the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) to allow providers to bill for wastage when single-dose vials of radiopharmaceuticals are used.

Dec 18, 2017
— A preclinical study from Belgium has shown promising results with the PET tracer florbetapir for targeting amyloid plaque and tau tangles in the brain and potentially evaluating the efficacy of certain Alzheimer's treatments. Findings were published in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Dec 15, 2017
— Palmetto GBA, a Medicare administrative contractor, has agreed to make billing-policy changes that SNMMI requested regarding payment for wastage from single-dose vials of radiopharmaceuticals. These changes affect North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia now, and will apply to the states that Palmetto will take over in 2018 (Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee).

Dec 11, 2017
— SNMMI and other societies and organizations in the nuclear medicine community have sent joint letters to the U.S. Senate and House chairs and ranking members of the respective Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development of the Committees on Appropriations, voicing support for $67.4 million to secure a sufficient domestic supply of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99).

Dec 6, 2017
— In the December featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Belgian researchers report on the first large-scale longitudinal imaging study to evaluate BACE1 inhibition with micro-PET in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. PET imaging has been established as an excellent identifier of the amyloid plaque and tau tangles that characterize Alzheimer’s disease. Now it is proving to be an effective way to gauge treatment effectiveness.

Dec 4, 2017
— For prostate cancer patients who have rising levels of PSA (a cancer indicator) even after radical prostatectomy, early treatment makes a difference. In a study featured in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Australian researchers demonstrate that PET scans can identify which of these prostate cancer patients would benefit from salvage radiation treatment.

Dec 4, 2017
— For prostate cancer patients who have rising levels of PSA (a cancer indicator) even after radical prostatectomy, early treatment makes a difference. In a study featured in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Australian researchers demonstrate that PET scans can identify which of these prostate cancer patients would benefit from salvage radiation treatment (SRT).

Nov 16, 2017
— Researchers in Germany are developing a novel PET/MRI approach to determine whether a kidney transplant patient has developed an infection in the transplanted tissue, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 14, 2017
— SNMMI has submitted comments to the NRC on its open petition for rulemaking, asking that its regulations be revised to include radionuclides and their corresponding activities to the list of "Quantities of Licensed Material Requiring Labeling."

Nov 8, 2017
— German scientists have developed a novel nuclear medicine test that can determine whether a kidney transplant patient has developed infection in the transplanted tissue. The study, which utilizes positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), is presented in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 7, 2017
— In a preclinical experiment, a new theranostic approach for treating colorectal cancer achieved a 100 percent cure rate with no toxic side effects. The study is featured in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 6, 2017
— Insights derived from FDG PET could improve treatment selection for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The study is presented in the featured clinical investigation article of the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 3, 2017
— "SNMMI: The Integral Thread – 2016 Annual Report" has received a MARCOM Platinum Award for excellence in communications and marketing. This recognition highlights the report’s successful representation of the innovative and collaborative nuclear medicine and molecular imaging research and clinical application process for which SNMMI is truly an integral thread.

Nov 3, 2017
— Final rules on Medicare for 2018 include the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP). This is a preliminary summary of how the rules affect nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. There are some tweaks, but no major surprises or changes. For example, the mandate that referring physician consult Appropriate Use Criteria (AUCs) is pushed back from 2018 to 2020.

Nov 2, 2017
— Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston have developed a new, three-step system that uses nuclear medicine to target and eliminate colorectal cancer. In this study with a mouse model, researchers achieved a 100-percent cure rate—without any treatment-related toxic effects. The study is reported in the November featured article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Nov 1, 2017
— A number of SNMMI members served as commissioners and contributed to development of the report on Future Research Priorities in the USA, which sets out how to accelerate cancer research and care in order to reach the goals of the U.S. Cancer Moonshot initiative.

Oct 24, 2017
— SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for FDG PET/CT in restaging and treatment response assessment of malignant disease. As cancer patients move through therapy, FDG PET/CT has proven an effective tool for assessing treatment response and updating the stage of malignancy. This AUC aims to improve utilization and guide providers across specialties in its use.

Oct 23, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have established practical arrangements to cooperate on extending the reach of educational materials for nuclear medicine diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The agreement was signed at the 30th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) in Vienna, Austria, on October 23, 2017.

Oct 20, 2017
— SNMMI’s Coding Corner provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive source for nuclear medicine coding and reimbursement information on the web.
In addition, the Coding and Reimbursement Q&A Section contains more than 120 questions and answers related to cardiology; NETS; oncology; PET, PET/CT and PET/MRI; pharmaceuticals and more. There’s also the option to ask new questions.

Oct 16, 2017
— Venkatesh Murthy, MD, PhD, associate professor at the University of Michigan, was one of two scientists to receive an American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) inaugural award for best clinical abstract at the ASNC Annual Scientific Session. His abstract on the effects of nuclear cardiology laboratory accreditation on patient outcomes was funded by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

Oct 15, 2017
— Researchers from Stanford University are reporting promising early results in the development of a novel PET radiopharmaceutical designed to identify most bacterial infections. Their findings were published in the October issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Oct 11, 2017
— The Southeastern Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SECSNMMI) presented Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, with the Marshall Brucer Award, the highest honor that the chapter can bestow upon a member, during the SECSNMMI Annual Meeting, held October 6-8, 2017, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Oct 10, 2017
— The SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy has received the American Association of Medical Society Executives’ (AAMSE) 2017 Profiles of Excellence Award in the Leadership Category. The SNMMI-TS Leadership Academy, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, is a two-day course that hones the leadership and organizational skills of participants, helping them become more engaged and effective leaders at the regional and national levels.

Oct 10, 2017
— SNMMI’s new Radiation Safety+ Review and Essentials program provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of radiation safety for nuclear medicine technologists preparing to take the NMTCB Radiation Safety Exam.

Oct 5, 2017
— Stanford University medical scientists have developed a novel imaging agent that could be used to identify most bacterial infections. The study is the featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s October issue.

Oct 5, 2017
— Therapy options are limited for men with advanced-stage, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but a new treatment protocol reported in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine's October issue offers hope.

Oct 4, 2017
— The “Hot Topic” article in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM), titled Nuclear Medicine Training: What Now?, examines the role of nuclear medicine in the era of precision medicine and the need for training to evolve with the practice. An associated editorial presents an alternative view: “Is 16 Months of Specialized Nuclear Medicine Training Enough for Best Patient Care?” The two perspectives kick off a discussion that will unfold in coming issues of JNM.

Oct 3, 2017
— Therapy options are limited for men with advanced-stage, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, but a new treatment protocol offers hope. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s October issue, German researchers report on a new dosing regimen for actinium-225-labeled targeted alpha therapy of patients with prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive tumors. The protocol balances treatment response with toxicity concerns to provide the most effective therapy with the least side effects.

Sep 27, 2017
— To SNMMI members, colleagues and all affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the earthquakes in Mexico, we send our thoughts and prayers. SNMMI is reaching out to members in the impacted areas and has made a donation to relief efforts.

Sep 14, 2017
— "Abdominal Imaging 2017: Quality, Safety, & Dose Optimization" is the second installment in a series of books dedicated to a single nuclear medicine procedure or imaging category. The book is put out by the SNMMI-TS Publications Committee, and chapters cover imaging rationale, indications, contraindications, patient preparation and education, imaging procedure, processing, interpretation including normal and abnormal results, sensitivity/specificity/accuracy, and artifacts.

Sep 13, 2017
— The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s September supplement shines a spotlight on theranostics and its increasingly important role in delivering precision medicine. Theranostics refers to the combination of a predictive biomarker, identified through diagnostic imaging using radiolabeled ligands, with precise therapy targeted on the now-marked cancer cells. The cancer cells are destroyed, while healthy cells are unharmed.

Sep 12, 2017
— International Isotopes Inc. has announced that Robert W. Atcher, PhD, MBA, FSNMMI has accepted a position on the company's Board of Directors. Atcher recently retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory where, for over 20 years, he worked on various medical applications for isotopes. He currently serves as president of the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (ERF).

Sep 7, 2017
— Researchers have demonstrated a new, effective way to precisely identify and localize prostate cancer tumors while protecting healthy tissue and reducing side effects. The study is presented in the featured basic article of the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Sep 7, 2017
— Researchers have demonstrated a new, effective way to precisely identify and localize prostate cancer tumors while protecting healthy tissue and reducing side effects.The study is presented in the featured basic article of the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Sep 6, 2017
— FDG-PET/CT scans performed during early treatment for melanoma could help clinicians identify whether the therapy will benefit a particular patient, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Sep 5, 2017
— Research highlighted in the featured article of the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that combined PET/CT scanning early in the treatment of advanced melanoma could identify whether immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy will benefit a particular patient. As the therapy has potentially serious side-effects, early determination of ineffectiveness could avert unnecessary risk exposure and provide the option of a different treatment.

Aug 29, 2017
— To SNMMI members, colleagues and all affected by Hurricane Harvey, we send our thoughts and prayers. We are deeply saddened by the flooding, devastation, and loss of life this storm has wrought. SNMMI is reaching out to members in the impacted areas of southeast Texas and Louisiana and will be making a donation to relief efforts.

Aug 24, 2017
— SNMMI is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017-2019 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship. This two-year fellowship, founded in 2008 by the late Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, and the late Kanji Torizuka, MD, PhD, is designed to provide extensive training and experience in the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their careers. Applications for the 2018-2020 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship are due by January 20, 2018.

Aug 22, 2017
— Registration is now open for the 12th Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB), which will be held April 20-24, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia. Early-bird rates apply until January 19, 2018.

Aug 18, 2017
— The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) have issued a joint consensus document on the role of F-18-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis.

Aug 10, 2017
— In the featured translational article in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrate the potential of a new PET tracer, Carbon-11 labeled sarcosine, for imaging prostate cancer, and set the stage for its possible use in monitoring other cancers.

Aug 10, 2017
— In the featured translational article in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrate the potential of a new PET tracer, Carbon-11 labeled sarcosine, for imaging prostate cancer, and set the stage for its possible use in monitoring other cancers.

Aug 7, 2017
— In the featured translational article in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers at the University of Michigan demonstrate the potential of a new PET tracer, Carbon-11 labeled sarcosine (11C-sarcosine), for imaging prostate cancer, and set the stage for its possible use in monitoring other cancers.

Aug 3, 2017
— SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for hepatobiliary scintigraphy in abdominal pain. This is the third in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. The other recently released AUC are for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer and for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism.

Aug 3, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for hepatobiliary scintigraphy in abdominal pain. This is the third in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging.

Aug 2, 2017
— SNMMI recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

Aug 1, 2017
— Yale University researchers have developed a way in which medical imaging could potentially be used to assess a patient’s rupture risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Delaying surgical treatment can be life-threatening, and this new type of imaging could allow physicians to diagnose disease and better plan its management. The study is presented in the featured article of the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Aug 1, 2017
— Yale University researchers have developed a way in which medical imaging could potentially be used to assess a patient's rupture risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Delaying surgical treatment can be life-threatening, and this new type of imaging could allow physicians to diagnose disease and better plan its management. The study is presented in the featured article of the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Jul 31, 2017
— SNMMI's Continuing Education Program for physicians has received reaccreditation for four years from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), based on its self-study report, evidence of performance-in-practice and the accreditation interview. Continuing education (CE) offerings must meet both public and professional needs, which are continuously changing in response to scientific and healthcare-delivery changes.

Jul 21, 2017
— A joint letter from SNMMI, ASNC and ACC was sent to First Coast Service Options, Medicare's Contractor for Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It recommended expanded coverage for cardiac PET consistent with our recent joint recommendations.

Jul 20, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the SNMMI 2017 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, held June 10-14. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role that SNMMI-TS members play in advancing the discipline of nuclear medicine technology.

Jul 19, 2017
— Findings, reported Wednesday, mark a first peek at a huge study under way to help determine if Medicare should start paying for specialized PET scans that find a hallmark of Alzheimer's — a sticky plaque called amyloid.For now, in addition to people who qualify for the IDEAS study, the Alzheimer's Association and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging say unusually young dementia patients, younger than 65, also might be candidates for a PET scan. The scans shouldn't be used as a screening tool for people without symptoms or who worry they're at risk. Nor are they for people who can be diagnosed by standard means, or to determine disease severity.

Jul 13, 2017
— In response to the Administration’s request for recommendations on how to reduce the regulatory burden on physicians SNMMI summited the attached letter making several recommendations such as using specialty-specific quality measures and rewarding physicians with additional training and expertise for their work.

Jul 12, 2017
— A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) reveals how brain receptors involved in the compulsion to drink, adapt to alcohol-dependency by reducing their bioavailability, but return to their normal availability after a modest period of detoxification. Receptor availability at the outset of sobriety could also serve as a predictor of long-term success.

Jul 10, 2017
— Fluorine-18-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) is a PET radiotracer that is widely used to diagnose hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply to tissue), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with FMISO uptake are known to face a poor prognosis. A multicenter French Phase II study featured in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine investigated whether a selective radiotherapy dose increase to tumor areas with significant FMISO uptake in NSCLC patients could improve outcomes.

Jul 6, 2017
— Blood clots in veins and arteries can lead to heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism, which are major causes of mortality. In the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s July 2017 issue, German researchers show that targeting GPIIb/IIIa receptors, the key receptor involved in platelet clumping, with a fluorine-18 labeled ligand is a promising approach for diagnostic imaging.

Jun 20, 2017
— According to new research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), prostate-specific molecular imaging could improve clinical management, especially in patients whose cancer returns.

Jun 20, 2017
— Researchers presenting a preclinical study at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated the efficacy and optimal dose for targeted photodynamic therapy (tPDT) to treat prostate cancer before and during surgery. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) was targeted with an anti-PSMA antibody radiolabeled with the tracer indium-111 and coupled with specialized photosensitizers that cause cell destruction upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR).

Jun 19, 2017
— David E. Kuhl, MD, a nuclear medicine pioneer who developed early prototypes of what was to become positron emission tomography (PET), died in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on May 28, 2017, at the age of 87.

Jun 15, 2017
— More than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors gathered for SNMMI’s 2017 Annual Meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado. The meeting shined a spotlight on theranostics, featured Germany as the highlight country, showcased exciting new research results, introduced the new Value Initiative, announced the SNMMI Image of the Year, and more!

Jun 15, 2017
— A team of Canadian researchers presented findings at the annual 2017 SNMMI conference on their work to tailor individualized care for patients suffering neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The research centered around targeted radiation delivery to avoid side effects and organ toxicity.

Jun 14, 2017
— An estimated one in seven American men will be affected by prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate-specific molecular imaging gives these men a fighting chance, especially if their cancer returns, according to research revealed at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 14, 2017
— Simultaneous injections of the radiopharmaceuticals fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) followed by quantitative scanning significantly improves image quality and detection of bone metastases at a lower dose, according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 14, 2017
— The combined imaging approach, by researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, is designed to produce more accurate detection of PSMA-positive tumor lesions and improve the removal of lymph-node metastases using image-guided surgery, leading to better patient outcomes.

Jun 14, 2017
— Simultaneous injections of the radiopharmaceuticals fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose and 18F-sodium fluoride followed by quantitative scanning significantly improves image quality and detection of bone metastases at a lower dose, according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

Jun 14, 2017
— In the battle against metastatic prostate cancer, the removal of lymph node metastases using image-guided surgery may have a high clinical impact on outcomes. Researchers at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated preclinically that dual-labeled PSMA-inhibitors based on PSMA-11 enhance preoperative staging, using PET/CT followed by fluorescence-guided surgery. The combined approach results in more accurate detection of PSMA-positive tumor lesions.

Jun 14, 2017
— Simultaneous injections of the radiopharmaceuticals fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) followed by quantitative scanning significantly improves image quality and detection of bone metastases at a lower dose, according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 13, 2017
— Identifying Alzheimer's disease before major symptoms arise is critical to preserving brain function and helping patients maintain quality of life. A new study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates that a single dual time-point PET scan could identify important biomarkers of Alzheimer’s.

Jun 13, 2017
— Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine technologist at the Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, Mass., has been elected as the 2017-18 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 13, 2017
— A first-in-human study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the novel human monoclonal antibody HuMab-5B1 with highly specific targeting for the cancer antigen (CA) 19-9, which is expressed on pancreatic tumors and a variety of other malignancies, including small cell lung cancer and tumors of the gastrointestinal system.
It holds the promise of better identifying tumors and directing treatment.

Jun 13, 2017
— SPECT scans show changes in cerebral blood flow in retired professional football players that differ based on which position they played, according to researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The findings were presented on Monday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) meeting.

Jun 13, 2017
— Norman E. Bolus, MSPH, MPH, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, program director and assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions Clinical and Diagnostics Sciences Department for the Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology Program and interim program director of the Master of Science in Health Physics Program in Birmingham, Alabama, has been elected as the 2017-18 president-elect of the Society of SNMMI-TS.

Jun 13, 2017
— A new study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates that a single dual time-point PET scan could identify important biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.

Jun 13, 2017
— A first-in-human study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrates the feasibility and safety of the novel human monoclonal antibody HuMab-5B1 with highly specific targeting for the cancer antigen (CA) 19-9, which is expressed on pancreatic tumors and a variety of other malignancies, including small cell lung cancer and tumors of the gastrointestinal system. It holds the promise of better identifying tumors and directing treatment.

Jun 12, 2017
— Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and chairman of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, has assumed office as 2017-18 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 12, 2017
— Neuroendocrine cancer is exceedingly difficult to manage and unlikely to be cured, but researchers intend to slow progression of these tumors and aid survival by personalizing patient dose of peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 12, 2017
— Vasken Dilsizian, MD, professor of radiology and medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, has assumed office as 2017-18 vice president–elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14, in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 12, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging recognized seven new SNMMI Fellows during a Special Plenary Session at the society’s 2017Annual Meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado. The SNMMI Fellowship was established last year to recognize distinguished service to the society as well as exceptional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.

Jun 12, 2017
— Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, professor of radiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, in Augusta, GA, has assumed office as 2017-18 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 10-14, in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 12, 2017
— Researchers are reporting [in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine] early success in the combination of optical and molecular imaging to view FDG-PET images that detect early-stage breast cancer. The technique, known as Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI), can assess tumor margins during breast tumor surgery by detecting light emitted from an FDG-PET radiopharmaceutical.

Jun 12, 2017
— A new study shows that a hybrid molecular imaging system unites three imaging modalities to map the composition of dangerous arterial plaques before they rupture and induce a major cardiac event. The research was presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 12, 2017
— Noted concussion researcher Dr. Julian Bailes has been awarded new grant funding of up to $25 million for research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to an announcement on Sunday at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) meeting in Denver.

Jun 11, 2017
— Researchers presenting a preclinical study at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated the efficacy and optimal dose for targeted photodynamic therapy (tPDT) to treat prostate cancer before and during surgery.

Jun 11, 2017
— A new study shows that a hybrid molecular imaging system unites three imaging modalities to map the composition of dangerous arterial plaques before they rupture and induce a major cardiac event. The research was presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 11, 2017
— A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) reveals how brain receptors involved in the compulsion to drink, adapt to alcohol-dependency by reducing their bioavailability, but return to their normal availability after a modest period of detoxification. Receptor availability at the outset of sobriety could also serve as a predictor of long-term success.

Jun 11, 2017
— At the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting, Julian E. Bailes, MD, a recognized leader in the field of neurosurgery and the impact of brain injury on brain function, announced new grant funding programs of up to $25 million for research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Jun 11, 2017
— Martin G. Pomper, MD, PhD, director of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and professor in the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, has been named the 2017 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Pomper was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its annual meeting, held June 10-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 11, 2017
— Joanna S. Fowler, PhD, senior chemist emeritus of the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York; special volunteer at the National Institutes of Health; emeritus professor in the Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University; and adjunct professor in the Psychiatry Department, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for her contributions to nuclear medicine. Fowler was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its 2017 Annual Meeting, June 9-14 in Denver, Colorado.

Jun 7, 2017
— In an article published in the June 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers assert that exposure to medical imaging radiation not only doesn’t increase an adult person’s risk of getting cancer, it doesn’t increase a child’s risk. According to the authors, the long-held belief that even low doses of radiation, such as those received in diagnostic imaging, increase cancer risk is based on an inaccurate, 70-year-old hypothesis and leads to unnecessary fear and misdiagnoses.

Jun 6, 2017
— National Decision Support Company and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging announced today that they have entered an agreement to make the SNMMI Imaging Appropriate Use Criteria available to referring physicians and other medical providers.

Jun 6, 2017
— There's always that little twinge of fear that comes with the thought of your little one being exposed to radiation during diagnostic imaging like X-rays or CAT scans. But according to an article published in the June 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the long-held belief that low doses of radiation increase cancer risk is based on an inaccurate, 70-year-old hypothesis.

Jun 5, 2017
— Using PET/MR imaging, a new international study featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that increases in partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) can safely and efficiently widen blood vessels of the heart during stress tests to help determine heart function.

Jun 5, 2017
— Using PET/MR imaging, a new international study featured in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates that increases in partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) can safely and efficiently widen blood vessels of the heart during stress tests to help determine heart function.

Jun 1, 2017
— Breast-conserving surgery is the primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer, but more accurate techniques are needed to assess resection margins during surgery to avoid the need for follow-up surgeries. Now, in a first-in-human study, British researchers have provided a possible solution using Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI), which combines optical and molecular imaging. The study is covered in the featured article of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine’s June 2017 issue.

May 30, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging has submitted testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services supporting increased funding in 2018 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The subcommittee will meet June 9, 2017.

May 25, 2017
— The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has endorsed SNMMI’s recently released appropriate use criteria (AUC) for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism (PE). This is significant as emergency room physicians are the primary audience for this critically important procedure to diagnose or rule out PE.

May 19, 2017
— The President has proposed dramatic reductions in the NIH’s budget for the remainder of 2017 and for 2018. SNMMI joined with many other physician groups in a letter to House leaders supporting increases in NIH funding.

May 18, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s 2017 Annual Meeting will be held in Denver, Colorado, June 10-14. It will bring together more than 5,000 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors from around the globe to share and learn about cutting-edge research, advance their knowledge through continuing education sessions, and network.

May 15, 2017
— The American College of Radiology (ACR) and SNMMI have issued a joint credentialing statement for physicians responsible for the oversight and interpretation of PET/MRI examinations of the body (head and neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, skeleton, extremities). It is now available in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine online and will be published in the July issue.

May 10, 2017
— The combination of SPECT/CT and fluorescence imaging could help surgeons differentiate tumor tissue from normal tissue in patients with colorectal cancer, according to a paper published in the May issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

May 10, 2017
— Researchers in The Netherlands have demonstrated that combining SPECT/CT and fluorescence imaging could help surgeons differentiate tumor tissue from normal tissue. The research is detailed in the featured basic science article of the May 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

May 8, 2017
— Experts in traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy gathered in Dallas, Texas, on May 6-7 for the Brain SAFTIE (Scanning to Assess For Traumatic Injury and Encephalopathy) Symposium. The participating physicians and scientists gave presentations on the current state of research in the field, identified gaps in existing knowledge, and discussed ways to address these gaps moving forward.

May 2, 2017
— In this first ever molecular drug-imaging study in children, researchers in The Netherlands used whole-body PET/CT scans to determine whether bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in children is likely to be effective. The study is featured in the May 2017 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

May 1, 2017
— Under a bipartisan Congressional spending deal reached April 30, 2017, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will receive an additional $2 billion in funding over the next five months for a total of $34.1 billion. Thank you, SNMMI members who advocated for NIH with your representatives! Your voices made a difference.

May 1, 2017
— SNMMI has published appropriate use criteria for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism. This is the second in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

May 1, 2017
— SNMMI has released appropriate use criteria for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism. This is the second in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

May 1, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) imaging in pulmonary embolism (PE). This is the second in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

Apr 19, 2017
— The American College of Nuclear Medicine (ACNM) and Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging are offering a joint webinar, part of a series that is free to full and associate SNMMI members, on “PET/CT of the Skeleton – Using CT Findings to Increase the Specificity of PET” on April 26, 2017 at 12 pm EDT.

Apr 7, 2017
— In an article published in the April issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” researchers at Stanford University in California provide a template for assessing new positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracers that can accurately identify molecules in cancer cells that prevent the immune system from attacking the cancer.

Apr 6, 2017
— SNMMI has released a new appropriate use criteria (AUC) for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer, the two most common diagnoses for which bone scans are ordered in the adult population. This is the first in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria Program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

Apr 6, 2017
— SNMMI has released a new AUC for bone scintigraphy in prostate and breast cancer. This is the first in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a Medicare qualified provider-led entity. Beginning January 1, 2018, all referring physicians or ordering professionals are required to consult appropriate use criteria using a clinical decision support mechanism before ordering any nuclear medicine study.

Apr 6, 2017
— Even though a lower dose of FDG had no significantly adverse effect on lesion detection for most adult cancer patients undergoing a whole-body PET/MRI scan, German researchers recommend that clinicians stay with recommended levels to avoid artifacts, according to a study published online March 30 in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Apr 6, 2017
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) has published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for bone scintigraphy (scans to identify bone metastases) in patients with prostate or breast cancer. This is the first in a series of new AUC developed by SNMMI in its role as a qualified provider-led entity (PLE) under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging.

Apr 4, 2017
— With the help of FDG-PET and an advanced image analysis technique known as radiomics, researchers have identified genetic cell mutations that can cause non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study published in the April issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Apr 1, 2017
— Researchers have used positron emission tomography (PET) to successfully identify genetic cell mutations that can cause lung cancer. The research, published in the featured article of the April 2017 issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” shows that an advanced image analysis technique, radiomics, can non-invasively identify underlying cell mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Mar 28, 2017
— The 3rd Annual “Hot Trot 5K” run/walk will take place in Denver, CO, on Saturday, June 10, at 7:00 am. Proceeds will support the Professional Development and Education Fund for SNMMI-TS and a local charity. New this year: a virtual option!

Mar 20, 2017
— Today, information is received through a variety of media. What social media excels at is providing immediacy and a network of colleagues. It’s evident that these channels provide valuable information, as SNMMI’s Facebook page now has more than 12,000 likes, and the SNMMI LinkedIn group has more than 11,000 members!

Mar 15, 2017
— Dirk (Dik) J. Kwekkeboom, MD, PhD, professor of nuclear medicine at Erasmus Univeristy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, passed away March 8, 2017. An SNMMI member since 1998, he was considered one of Europe’s foremost experts on peptide receptor radiotherapy and was a frequent international speaker on neuroendocrine tumor imaging and lutetium-177 octreotate therapy.

Mar 8, 2017
— CT, MR and nuclear medicine bone scans are conventionally used to guide and monitor targeted treatment for recurrent prostate cancer, but researchers at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University may have found a better alternative. Preliminary results in a three-year study that found fluorine-18-fluciclovine PET/CT can improve radiotherapy targeting were published in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Mar 6, 2017
— The featured clinical investigation article of the March 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates that the PET radiotracer fluciclovine (fluorine-18; F-18) can help guide and monitor targeted treatment for recurrent prostate cancer, allowing for individualized, targeted therapy.

Mar 2, 2017
— European researchers have developed a PET tracer that has shown the ability to quickly and noninvasively identify life-threatening atherosclerotic plaques, according to a study published in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Mar 1, 2017
— In the featured article of the March 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers demonstrate that a new positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, gallium-68 (Ga-68)-pentixafor, can quickly and non-invasively identify life-threatening atherosclerotic plaques. The tracer binds to the CXCR4 receptor on inflammatory cells present in atherosclerotic plaques—making it possible to find and treat atherosclerosis early.

Feb 23, 2017
— Congratulations to the 2017-2019 interns for the Clinical Trials Network, councils and centers of excellence!The internships begin mid-June, at the end of the SNMMI 2017 Annual Meeting and provide young professionals (physicians, technologists, or scientists) the opportunity to get involved with the society at the council and center level.

Feb 15, 2017
— The APC for articles accepted for publication in "Molecular Imaging" (MIX) is waived for SNMMI members through the end of May. From June 1, 2017, forward, SNMMI members will receive a 50% discount.

Feb 6, 2017
— A study published in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine demonstrates the potential of extending peptide receptor radionuclide therapy targeting the somatostatin receptor to other types of malignancies beyond neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The theranostic pairing of Netspot (Ga-68 DOTATATE, which is FDA-approved) and Lutathera (Lu-177-DOTATATE, currently under FDA review) has already shown that it can significantly improve progression-free survival in patients with somatostatin receptor-positive NETs.

Feb 6, 2017
— A study published in the February issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates the potential of extending peptide receptor radionuclide therapy targeting the somatostatin receptor to other types of malignancies beyond neuroendocrine tumors.

Feb 6, 2017
— SNMMI and the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging are pleased to announce that Ashley Mishoe, B.S., Pharm.D., and Daniel L Yokell, Pharm.D., are the recipients of the 2017 Robert E. Henkin Government Relations Fellowship.

Feb 3, 2017
— In the latest issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers have confirmed that a new PET radio tracer for diagnosing primary and metastatic prostate cancer is safe and effective.

Feb 3, 2017
— SNMMI joins many other professional societies in the United States in asking President Trump to rescind his Executive Order restricting entry to America for individuals from certain countries. Read a message from SNMMI President Sally Schwarz, and see her letter to the President.

Feb 1, 2017
— In the featured article from the February 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers document the first-in-human application of a new imaging agent to help find prostate cancer in both early and advanced stages and plan treatment. The study indicates that the new agent—a PET radiotracer—is both safe and effective.

Jan 9, 2017
— A new therapeutic agent for radioligand therapy called lutetium-177-labeled PSMA-617 is showing promise in a German multi-center study for treating patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The research was recently published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Jan 9, 2017
— In an article published in the January 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers assert that exposure to medical radiation does not increase a person’s risk of getting cancer.

Jan 9, 2017
— In an article published in the January 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers assert that exposure to medical radiation does not increase a person's risk of getting cancer. The long-held belief that even low doses of radiation, such as those received in diagnostic imaging, increase cancer risk is based on an inaccurate, 70-year-old hypothesis, according to the authors.

Jan 5, 2017
— A German multicenter study, initiated by the German Society of Nuclear Medicine, demonstrates that lutetium-177 (Lu-177)-labeled PSMA-617 is a promising new therapeutic agent for radioligand therapy (RLT) of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The study is published in the January 2017 issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" and is the featured article.

Jan 3, 2017
— Johannes Czernin, MD, has assumed leadership of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" (JNM), the educational flagship publication of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). Czernin is a professor of molecular and medical pharmacology and the chief of the Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dec 14, 2016
— The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has scaled back a proposal that would have granted expanded duties to advanced-level nurses within the VA system by removing language that could have allowed nurses to perform and interpret medical imaging studies. SNMMI, as well as other organizations in the imaging community, submitted comments to the VA expressing concern about this potential expansion of nurses’ duties into areas for which they do not have the requisite training.

Dec 5, 2016
— In a study reported in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers at the University of Würzburg in Germany focused on kidneys to demonstrate that low-cost 3D printing techniques can be used for quantitative SPECT/CT imaging.

Dec 5, 2016
— In nuclear medicine, the goal is to keep radiation exposure at a minimum, while obtaining quality images. Optimal dosing for individual patients can be difficult to determine. That’s where 3D-printed organ models of varying size and shape could be of great use. In a study reported in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," researchers at the University of Würzburg in Germany focused on kidneys to demonstrate that low-cost 3D printing techniques can be used for quantitative SPECT/CT imaging.

Dec 2, 2016
— Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center demonstrated that a new PET imaging agent can detect metastatic prostate cancer in regions that it has previously been difficult to spot. Results from the Phase 1 dose-escalation study of Zr-89-deferrioxamine-IAB2M were published in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Dec 2, 2016
— New research demonstrates that a novel imaging agent can quickly and accurately detect metastasis of prostate cancer, even in areas where detection has previously been difficult. Published in the December issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," the Phase 1 dose-escalation study of Zr-89-desferrioxamine-IAB2M (Zr-89-Df-IAB2M), an anti-PSMA minibody, in patients with metastatic prostate cancer shows its effectiveness in targeting both bone and soft tissue lesions.

Dec 1, 2016
— SNMMI President Sally Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, is a co-commissioner on The Lancet Oncology’s Moonshot Commission, which was launched in response to the White House Cancer Moonshot Initiative. The Commission will deeply explore the underlying cancer burden and research landscape in the U.S. and propose specific research and funding priorities to help accelerate Moonshot plans. Schwarz is providing the Commission with insight on the key role of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in the battle to defeat cancer.

Nov 29, 2016
— President-elect Donald Trump’s healthcare nominees are in keeping with his promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as well as to work with Republicans to overhaul Medicare and Medicaid significantly. Trump has selected Republican Representative Tom Price, an orthopedic surgeon from Georgia, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Seema Verma—president, CEO and founder of SVC, Inc., a national health policy consulting company—to serve as CMS administrator.

Nov 21, 2016
— The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission's Nuclear/PET accreditation division and the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Molecular Imaging are mandating that radiation dose be optimized for nuclear cardiology studies.

Nov 17, 2016
— Working in concert, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC)’s Nuclear/PET accreditation division and the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are mandating optimized radiation doses in conjunction with the nuclear cardiology studies (i.e., myocardial perfusion imaging) performed throughout the United States and beyond.

Nov 10, 2016
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging is pleased to welcome Maria De León, MD, a neurologist, to its Patient Advocacy Advisory Committee. De León is living with Parkinson’s and is committed to increasing awareness of the disease, raising funds for research, and advocating for both patients and their caregivers.

Nov 9, 2016
— In addition to providing cutting-edge education at the SNMMI Mid-Winter and Annual meetings, CTN frequently presents at international conferences. Recent presentations were given at the Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine in Nagoya, Japan, and the Theranostics World Congress in Melbourne, Australia.

Nov 9, 2016
— Minimal changes were made to the NMT Scope of Practice and Performance Standards approved in September 2016. The main change is clarification of SNMMI-TS support of the NMTCB(CT) credential. Efforts are currently underway to include MRI in future revisions of the NMT Scope of Practice and Performance Standards.

Nov 9, 2016
— SNMMI sent informal comments to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in October asking that the VA modify its qualification standards for the practice of diagnostic CT. The VA has responded that it is aware of this issue and is actively working toward a resolution. It agrees that NMTs with certification should be able to perform advanced CT procedures.

Nov 8, 2016
— Virginia Evelyn Egner Watson, 87, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away Friday, November 4, 2016. She had a long career as a health physicist at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) and served as director of the Radiation Internal Dosimetry Information Center (RIDIC). Watson was an active member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) Committee and the Health Physics Society for many years.

Nov 4, 2016
— Australian researchers have shown the proficiency of PET with the radiotracer F-18 florbetaben to detect abnormal deposits of proteins in the heart in a study published in the November issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Nov 1, 2016
— Researchers at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, have demonstrated that cardiac amyloidosis (abnormal deposits of proteins in the heart), which is notoriously difficult to diagnose, can be visualized noninvasively with positron emission tomography (PET) using the radiotracer fluorine-18 (F-18)-florbetaben. The study is published in the November issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Oct 31, 2016
— SNMMI has just released a new two-hour online lecture and case review on "Clinical Diagnosis and Neuroimaging in Alzheimer’s Disease." This complimentary program offers two hours of CE credit for both physicians and technologists.

Oct 26, 2016
— The Best Radiology Image in this year's Minnies awards, recognizing excellence in radiology, examines two new PET radiotracers, gallium-68 PSMA-11 and gallium-68 RM2, to determine their effectiveness in identifying rising levels of PSA, which signals prostate cancer recurrence. The figure was shown at the 2016 SNMMI Annual Meeting and included in the highlights lecture.

Oct 20, 2016
— Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated for the first time the use of a dual optical and PET/CT activity-based probe, which images vascular inflammation, to detect atherosclerotic plaques. The study is published in the October issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Oct 20, 2016
— Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated for the first time the use of a dual optical and PET/CT activity-based probe to detect atherosclerotic plaques. The study is published in the October issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Oct 17, 2016
— Physician Compare allows clinicians and group practices to preview their performance scores for select 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) for PQRS measures before they are publicly reported on Physician Compare later this year.

Oct 17, 2016
— The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final rule for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). MACRA ends the Sustainable Growth Rate formula for updates to the physician fee schedule, which threatened clinicians participating in Medicare with potential payment cliffs for 13 years. It replaces it with the Quality Payment Program, which rewards the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Oct 3, 2016
— Tau PET is a new and promising imaging method for Alzheimer's disease. A case study now confirms that tau PET images correspond to a higher degree to actual changes in the brain. According to the researchers behind the study, this increases opportunities for developing effective drugs.

Sep 29, 2016
— Researchers released a proof-of-concept study with evidence that an experimental PET tracer can effectively diagnose concussion-related brain degeneration in living people, based on study of the brain of a living, 39-year old retired NFL player who experienced approximately 22 concussions over the course of his career.

Sep 27, 2016
— Combined PET and CT scans accurately measure a tumor's energy use and ability to convert glucose to energy, offering doctors a faster method of measuring treatment response for head and neck cancers, researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research report in a study published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Sep 19, 2016
— Cancer biologists know that inhibitor-mediated feedback loop changes (increased expression of a cell surface receptor in response to target inhibition) can result in breast cancer treatment failure and the need for additional therapy. A recent study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City shows that imaging of these cell surface receptor changes with PET probes specific to epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) directly addresses this unmet need in cancer therapy decision-making, while avoiding the need for repeated biopsies. The study is reported in the September issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Sep 13, 2016
— The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have released a report on the state of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) production, its utilization in medicine, and progress toward eliminating the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) during production. The report says, “The committee judges that there is a substantial (>50 percent) likelihood of severe molybdenum-99/technetium-99m supply shortages after October 2016, lasting at least until current global suppliers complete their planned capacity expansions.”

Sep 6, 2016
— The Nuclear Medicine Global Initiative, which was formed in 2012 and consists of 13 international organizations, focused on pediatric nuclear medicine for its first project. Its final report, published in the July issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," sets forth recommendations for achieving global standards for the administration of radiopharmaceuticals in children.

Aug 23, 2016
— SNMMI is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016-2018 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship. This two-year fellowship, founded in 2008 by the late Henry N. Wagner, Jr., MD, and the late Kanji Torizuka, MD, PhD, is designed to provide extensive training and experience in the fields of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for Japanese physicians in the early stages of their careers. Applications for the 2017-2019 SNMMI Wagner-Torizuka Fellowship are due by January 20, 2017.

Aug 18, 2016
— A recent study by researchers at Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of Tc-99m-rituximab, a new SLN radiotracer, that targets the antigen CD20, which is expressed extensively in lymph nodes. The study is published in the August issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Aug 17, 2016
— A recent study by researchers at Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of Tc-99m-rituximab, a new SLN radiotracer, that targets the antigen CD20, which is expressed extensively in lymph nodes. The study is published in the August issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Jul 28, 2016
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS) recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during the SNMMI 2016 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role that SNMMI-TS members play in advancing the discipline of nuclear medicine technology.

Jul 18, 2016
— On May 25, 2016, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released a proposed rule to grant advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) the authority to, among other things, perform advanced imaging services. SNMMI is strongly opposed to the implementation of this section and urges you to submit comments on this matter.

Jul 13, 2016
— SNMMI recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2016 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. Several awards ceremonies were held to recognize the valuable role SNMMI members play in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, cancer and neurological conditions.

Jul 11, 2016
— A University of Michigan study published in the July issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" reports that combining PET imaging with multi-parametric MR improves the accuracy of targeted prostate biopsies.

Jul 11, 2016
— University of Michigan researchers recently uncovered that combining PET imaging with multi-parametric MR (mpMR) improves the accuracy of image-guided prostate biopsies. The study was published in the July issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Jun 22, 2016
— SNMMI has been named a qualified provider-led entity under the Medicare Appropriate Use Criteria program for advanced diagnostic imaging. This will allow referring physicians to use SNMMI’s appropriate use criteria to fulfill the requirements of the 2014 Protecting Access to Medicare Act.

Jun 17, 2016
— If you were unable to join the IDEAS study webinar on Tuesday, May 24, it is available for replay. Denise Merlino, CPC, CNMT, reviewed the Medicare billing guidance for the IDEAS study, including the basics of the CPT and HCPCS codes as well as national payment rates based on the varying patient setting.

Jun 16, 2016
— More than 5,700 physicians, technologists, scientists and exhibitors gathered at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2016 Annual Meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 15, 2016
— Positron emission tomography (PET) with three different radiotracers can now measure amyloid plaques, tau tangles and metabolic activity in the brains of living Alzheimer’s patients. This multimodal study shows significant correlation between increased tau and decreased metabolic activity in the brain—a clear sign of neurodegeneration—reveal researchers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 15, 2016
— Prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men, second only to skin cancer. With surgical removal at the frontline of defense, oncologists are considering prostate-specific molecular imaging at the point of initial biopsy and pre-operative planning to root out the full extent of disease, researchers revealed at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 14, 2016
— Cancer patients often experience significant fluctuations in weight and lean body mass (LBM). Neglecting to account for these changes can prevent clinicians from obtaining precise data from molecular imaging, but a new method of measuring LBM takes changes in individual body composition into account for better staging of disease and therapy monitoring, say researchers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 14, 2016
— Bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to a new and surprisingly portable molecular imaging system that combines optical imaging at the surface level and scintigraphy, which captures the physiological function of what lies beneath, announced developers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 13, 2016
— Kathleen M. Krisak, BS, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a nuclear medicine technologist at the Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, Mass., has been elected as the 2016-17 president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
— H. William (Bill) Strauss, MD, FACNM, a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular nuclear medicine, was awarded the Benedict Cassen Prize, often considered the Nobel Prize of nuclear medicine, during the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in San Diego, Calif. This honor is given every two years by the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (ERF) to a living scientist or physician-scientist whose work has led to a major advance in basic or clinical nuclear medicine science.

Jun 13, 2016
— Aggressive neuroendocrine cancer is something of a dark horse—a rare, elusive and persevering force linked to discouraging long-term survival rates. Researchers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are presenting a molecular imaging technique that allows oncologists to set patients’ radiotherapy doses right at that critical limit of delivering the most powerful kill to neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) while protecting vulnerable vital organs.

Jun 13, 2016
— Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and chairman of the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, has assumed office as 2016-17 vice president-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
— Bennett S. Greenspan, MD, MS, FACNM, FACR, professor of radiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, in Augusta, GA, has assumed office as 2016-17 President-elect of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
— Sally W. Schwarz, MS, RPh, BCNP, professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., has assumed office as 2016-17 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15, in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
— Sara G. Johnson, MBA, CNMT, NCT, FSNMMI-TS, chief technologist/administrative officer and research coordinator for nuclear medicine with the VA San Diego Healthcare System in San Diego, Calif., has been elected as the 2016-17 president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS). The new slate of officers was introduced during the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s (SNMMI) 2016 Annual Meeting, June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging announced the creation of an SNMMI Fellowship recognizing distinguished service to SNMMI as well as exceptional achievement in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The announcement was made during today’s Special Plenary Session at the society’s 2016 Annual Meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 13, 2016
— Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) have a collective reputation for not responding very well to chemotherapy. Researchers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are presenting a means of evaluating an immunotherapy that fights off NSCLC by strengthening a patient’s own immune system.

Jun 13, 2016
— Alzheimer’s is a devastating and incurable disease marked by beta-amyloid and tau protein aggregations in the brain, yet the direct relationship between these proteins and neurodegeneration has remained a mystery. New molecular imaging research is revealing how tau, rather than amyloid-deposition, may be more directly instigating neuronal dysfunction, say presenters at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 12, 2016
— This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first treatment of thyroid disease with radioactive iodine. In January 1941, Dr. Saul Hertz administered a cyclotron-produced mixture of iodine-130 and iodine-131 to a patient at Massachusetts General Hospital for the treatment of Graves’ disease. Purchase of that cyclotron was funded by the Markle Foundation, which has now partnered with SNMMI to commemorate this anniversary at SNMMI’s Annual Meeting, June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 12, 2016
— The triggers of autoimmune inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) have eluded scientists for many years, but molecular imaging is bringing researchers closer to identifying them, while providing a means of evaluating next-generation therapies for MS, say researchers introducing a study at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 12, 2016
— Malignant neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relatively rare, notoriously difficult to treat, and associated with poor long-term survival. According to research presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), an investigative blood test could predict how patients will respond to peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) before they commit to a course of treatment.

Jun 12, 2016
— Alcoholism is a devastating disorder that too often leads to a perpetual cycle of abuse. An emerging molecular imaging technique may provide a way to break that cycle. It could signal patients’ heightened risk and lead to targeted drug treatments that reduce the compulsion to drink, say researchers presenting at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Jun 12, 2016
— Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD, FACNP, FACR, professor of radiology, pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering, and director of the Molecular Imaging Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, has been named the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Paul C. Aebersold Award. Conti was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) during its annual meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 12, 2016
— Ross McDougall, MB, ChB, PhD, professor emeritus of radiology and medicine at Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., has been named this year’s recipient of the Georg Charles de Hevesy Nuclear Pioneer Award for his contributions to nuclear medicine. McDougall was presented the award by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) at its 2016 Annual Meeting, held June 11-15 in San Diego, Calif.

Jun 8, 2016
— Sodium fluoride (Na-F-18) PET/CT can accurately detect bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to a new pilot study published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine." Follow-up scans revealed that it's also associated with better clinical outcomes and patient survival.

Jun 7, 2016
— A recent pilot study reported in the June issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" found that NaF-PET/CT accurately detects bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, and follow-up scans over time correlate clearly with clinical outcomes and patient survival.

May 19, 2016
— PET-CT is now the modern standard for staging Hodgkin lymphoma and can replace contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) in the vast majority of cases, based on a large, international RATHL (Response-Adapted Therapy in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma) clinical trial.

May 11, 2016
— New PET scans show that the tangle-causing protein tau is a better marker of patients' cognitive decline and the beginning of symptoms than amyloid plaque build-up alone. That's especially true when tau spreads to a particular brain region important for memory, researchers reported in the journal “Science Translational Medicine.”

May 9, 2016
— A recent study reported in the May issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" demonstrates that Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scans are superior to In-111 pentetreotide scans, the current imaging standard in the United States for detecting neuroendocrine tumors (NETS), and could significantly impact treatment management.

May 9, 2016
— Ga-68 DOTATATE PET/CT scans are superior to In-111 pentetreotide scans, the current imaging standard in the United States for detecting neuroendocrine tumors (NETS), and could significantly impact treatment management, a new study published in the May issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" reports.

Apr 15, 2016
— Using SPECT/MRI to image sentinel lymph nodes to assess whether metastases are present could greatly benefit cervical cancer patients without enlarged lymph nodes, according to a study published in the April issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Apr 15, 2016
— A team of researchers from Duke University School of Medicine working with scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Lumicell Inc. tested a new injectable agent that causes cancerous tumor cells to fluoresce, which could help surgeons spot all cancerous cells early. The study is published in "Science Translational Medicine."

Apr 15, 2016
— Researchers have succeeded in using an imaging technique to record changes and inflammation in the brain of a person with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using a potential biomarker of inflammation. The research, conducted at The Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI) at Massachusetts General Hospital, is part of the TRACK ALS project to identify imaging markers of ALS, in order to facilitate early diagnosis and develop new therapies.

Apr 14, 2016
— A recent study reported in the April issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" found that cervical cancer patients without enlarged lymph nodes could benefit from SPECT-MRI imaging of their sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) to assess whether metastases are present.

Apr 11, 2016
— Using PET imaging to guide chemotherapy treatment significantly increases the number of people who go into remission and also decreases toxic side effects for people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma, according to research conducted by SWOG and two other National Cancer Institute research groups.

Apr 7, 2016
— While there are guidelines for recommended radiopharmaceutical doses for pediatric nuclear medicine patients, there is still wide variability around the world in terms of how those standards are followed, according to a new report published online March 31 in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Apr 5, 2016
— The investigational PET contrast agent for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), flurpiridaz F 18, was found to be superior to MPI with SPECT for assessing coronary artery disease (CAD) in obese patients. The findings were presented by Lantheus at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific session in Chicago.

Apr 5, 2016
— Image-guided surveillance may help detect the need for, and guidance of, neck dissection among patients with advanced nodal disease of the head and neck, avoiding the need for some posttreatment surgeries, according to a study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine."

Apr 4, 2016
— A promising new discovery by UCLA scientists could lead to a new method of identifying cancer patients that express high levels of an enzyme and are more likely to respond to cancer treatments. The study is published online in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

Mar 29, 2016
— A newly discovered PET imaging tool that can detect the buildup of an enzyme associated with leukemia and other deadly cancers could identify patients likely to respond well to certain cancer treatments, according to a study published online March 28 in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America."

Mar 28, 2016
— FDG-PET/CT with dual-time-point imaging was accurate in diagnosing breast cancer recurrence with only a small number of false-positive cases, a study published in the "Journal of Clinical Oncology" has shown.

Mar 23, 2016
— Head and neck cancer patients may no longer have to undergo invasive post-treatment surgery to remove remaining cancer cells, as research shows that innovative scanning-led surveillance using PET-CT can help identify the need for, and guidance of, neck dissection.

Mar 17, 2016
— While the use of PET/MRI is feasible across all types of cancer, it may be tough to show its superiority to PET/CT due to the latter modality's proven track record in detecting and evaluating the disease, according to a review in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Mar 16, 2016
— University of Michigan researchers have developed a near-infrared imaging agent that can be delivered orally in pill form. The agent binds to cancer cells or blood vessels unique to tumors, releasing a dye that fluoresces under near-infrared light.

Mar 9, 2016
— Combining optical coherence tomography with near-infrared autofluorescence imaging may more accurately identify coronary artery plaques that are most likely to rupture and cause a heart attack, according to a report by researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and published online in “JACC Cardiovascular Imaging.”

Mar 9, 2016
— In patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), a PET scan after two cycles of intensive up-front chemotherapy appears to be effective for identifying those who can avoid excessive toxicity by employing a less-intensive regimen in subsequent treatment cycles, according to a study that evaluated this strategy.

Mar 8, 2016
— A new method of PET scan is allowing researchers to gain a better understanding of dementia disorders while patients are alive, including a finding that those with language dementia -- primary progressive aphasia -- have a buildup of amyloid plaques on the left side of the brain.

Mar 7, 2016
— The Kircher laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York is developing novel nanoprobes for molecular imaging, image-guided therapy, and theranostics. An overview of the research was published in the “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine” (Sept. 2015).

Mar 7, 2016
— PET/CT after re-irradiation of head and neck cancers can be useful for prognostic purposes. Although a negative post-treatment PET/CT may not reliably portend a good prognosis, a positive PET/CT practically rules out the possibility of long-term survival.

Mar 4, 2016
— A recent clinical trial at Duke University School of Medicine has demonstrated the potential of a protease-activated fluorescent probe to help surgeons more accurately identify cancerous tissue in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma or soft tissue sarcoma.

Mar 3, 2016
— Researchers have visualized the development of Alzheimer's disease in the brain in living people using positron emission tomography, or PET scans, which they say will aid with its diagnosis and treatment.

Mar 3, 2016
— A recent study found that PET scans don’t appear to improve outcomes when used to detect recurrence of lung and esophageal cancers in patients without symptoms, and the scans may be overused in these cases. Ryan Niederkohr, MD, president of the SNMMI PET Center of Excellence, is quoted in the article and provides a balanced perspective on the use of PET to detect cancer recurrence.

Mar 2, 2016
— A recent study, reported in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," found evidence that genetic influence on cerebral glucose metabolism played a major role in the bilateral parietal lobes and the left temporal lobe of the human brain, while environmental influences after birth dominated in other regions. Researchers at Osaka University used PET scans to evaluate F-18 FDG uptake in each cerebral lobe for the identical and fraternal twins in the study as well as the controls. By comparing differences, they could estimate the genetic and environmental contributions.

Mar 1, 2016
— SNMMI and the Education and Research Foundation for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging are pleased to announce that Thomas Hope, MD, and Prashant Jolepalem, MD, CCD, are the recipients of the 2016 Robert E. Henkin Government Relations Fellowship.

Mar 1, 2016
— A recent study, reported in the March issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," found evidence that genetic influence on cerebral glucose metabolism played a major role in the bilateral parietal lobes and the left temporal lobe of the human brain, while environmental influences after birth dominated in other regions.

Mar 1, 2016
— A three-month follow-up PET/CT scan is very helpful for detecting the recurrence of oropharyngeal cancer and predicting the overall survival of patients treated with radiation therapy, according to a study presented at the recent American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium in Scottsdale, AZ.

Feb 26, 2016
— Performing PET/CT examinations using the radiotracer F-18-FDG immediately following localized liver tumor ablation is more effective than contrast-enhanced CT for predicting tumor recurrence, according to results of a study published online in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Feb 25, 2016
— On Tuesday February 24, the Obama administration nominated Dr. Robert Califf, a cardiologist and clinical researcher long affiliated with Duke University, to be the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Feb 22, 2016
— For the first time, researchers have succeeded in passing an antibody through the blood-brain barrier to act as a tracer for PET imaging of the brain. This resulted in more precise information being obtained than with regular radioactive tracers. The study provides hope for more effective diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's disease and improvements in monitoring the effects of medication.

Feb 22, 2016
— Liviu Mirica’s research at Washington University shows that a Cu-64 imaging agent might make it possible to image the brain for up to two days, long enough to see the effect of a candidate agent on amyloid aggregates--providing a way of judging the efficacy of a therapy.

Feb 19, 2016
— The combination of FDG-PET and MR enterography can accurately differentiate fibrotic strictures and inflammation in patients with Crohn's disease, potentially helping patients avoid unnecessary surgery, according to a new study published in the March issue of "Radiology."

Feb 18, 2016
— Research being conducted in Israel by Yale researcher Evan Morris, PhD, an expert on PET imaging using tracer kinetic modeling to create functional images of the brain, shows that addictions work differently in women and men.

Feb 17, 2016
— In a study published in the February issue of “The Journal of Nuclear Medicine,” Japanese researchers report early success with a novel PET imaging tracer that enhances the detection of tau deposits in regions of the brain that are associated with the onset of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Feb 17, 2016
— Combining the high sensitivity of PET for molecular and cellular processes with the functional and anatomical information from MR results in a promising hybrid molecular imaging modality. Dr. Jacob Dubroff of the University of Pennsylvania was interviewed on the value of PET/MR at the SNMMI Mid-Winter Meeting.

Feb 16, 2016
— On Tuesday, February 16, SNMMI submitted comments to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on a number of issues associated with medical treatment of patients with sodium iodide I–131.

Feb 11, 2016
— George E. Thoma, Jr., MD, a pioneer in the field of nuclear medicine and a former vice president of the St. Louis University medical center, died Jan. 31 of natural causes. He was the founding editor of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," serving in that capacity from 1958 to 1970.

Feb 3, 2016
— Suffering a traumatic brain injury may lead to a buildup of Alzheimer's-type plaques in the brain, including in regions not typically affected by such plaques, a small new study published in the journal "Neurology" suggests.

Jan 27, 2016
— Development of effective new treatments for cancer, dementia, Parkinson's disease and other brain conditions is becoming possible from breakthrough discoveries being made in nanotechnology.

Jan 27, 2016
— A recent study, reported in the January issue of "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine," shows in a prospective, systematic manner that a PET/CT scan, using the radiotracer F-18-DCFBC to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), is significantly more effective than other detection methods currently in use.

Jan 27, 2016
— A recent study published in "The Journal of Nuclear Medicine" shows in a prospective, systematic manner that a PET/CT scan, using the radiotracer F-18-DCFBC to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), is significantly more effective at detecting metastatic prostate cancer than conventional imaging methods.

Jan 27, 2016
— Inflammatory brain changes related to Alzheimer's disease may occur as many as 20 years before onset of symptoms, according to new research reported in the journal "Brain" - a finding that could pave the way for early interventions that could halt disease development. All subjects were injected with three radioactive tracer molecules prior to PET scans - PIB, Deprenyl and FDG - which allowed the researchers to track plaque levels and inflammation related to activation of astrocytes, the most common support cell in the brain.

Jan 25, 2016
— Gadolinium chelate contrast is not needed when using 18F-FDG PET/MRI to diagnose most solid pediatric malignancies, with the possible exception of focal liver lesions, according to a study published in the "Journal of Nuclear Medicine."

Dec 16, 2015
— On Wednesday, December 16, SNMMI submitted comments to CMS on the CY 2016 Final Rules for the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) and the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS).

Nov 30, 2015
— The US Pharmacopeia (USP) is currently in the process of forming a Radioactive Drugs Expert Panel. The call for members of this Panel is now open and the deadline to apply is December 20th.

Oct 6, 2015
— You still have time to email your members of Congress. Please urge them to sign the Congressional letters circulating in the House and the Senate regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital 2016 proposed rule for the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) no later than Wednesday, October 7. We need to act quickly to make a strong impact in favor of change.

Aug 21, 2015
— Researchers have discovered that PET imaging with a specific biomarker can detect a fast-growing primary prostate cancer and is better able to differentiate it from benign prostate lesions, a process that they hope could eventually replace the traditional ultrasound-guided 12-core biopsy.

Aug 21, 2015
— PET/CT is a valuable tool in the staging of cancer and monitoring of treatment response in patients. However, the appearance and apparent uptake of small lesions in particular, such as liver metastases and lung nodules, can vary significantly depending on the choice of reconstruction algorithm and parameters.

Aug 20, 2015
— Ronald S. Tikofsky, a longtime Adjunct Professor of Speech Pathology at Teachers College, passed away earlier this summer. Tikofsky was an expert in aphasia and acquired language disorders who received the Gold Medal of the American College of Nuclear Medicine for his pioneering brain imaging studies of speech and language.

Aug 18, 2015
— A blood clot can potentially trigger heart attacks, strokes and other medical emergencies. Treatment requires finding its exact location, but current techniques can only look at one part of the body at once. Now, researchers are reporting a method, tested in rats, that may someday allow physicians to quickly scan the entire body for a blood clot.

Aug 17, 2015
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging’s Technologist Section (SNMMI-TS)—an international scientific and medical organization—recognized contributions to and work in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md.

Aug 17, 2015
— The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), an international scientific and medical organization, recognized contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging during its 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md.

Aug 17, 2015
— Molecular breast imaging (MBI) as a secondary screening tool for women with dense breasts is more cost-effective than screening with mammography alone, according to a new Mayo Clinic study.

Aug 13, 2015
— Although many drugs are under study for patients with metastatic breast cancer, there is a pressing need to establish methods of predicting response and improving drug delivery, and researchers are looking toward molecular imaging techniques to help reach those goals, according to Pamela Munster, MD, a specialist in developmental therapeutics.

Jun 8, 2015
— Neil A. Petry MS, RPh, BCNP, associate professor of radiology and medical physics graduate program faculty member at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, has been elected director-at-large of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

May 6, 2015
— During the week of April 27, SNMMI and the ERF hosted the 2015 Robert E. Henkin Fellows, David Douglas, MD, from the Stanford University School of Medicine and Ben Franc, MD, from the University of California.

Oct 30, 2014
— On October 27, 2014, SNMMI hosted a broad stakeholder meeting in Linthicum Heights, Md. The society brought in more than 40 experts from the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to discuss the current regulatory climate.

Oct 13, 2014
— Mallinckrodt informed customers that, due to some of the significant cost drivers that the nuclear medicine industry is experiencing, they will be increasing prices over the next several years.

Oct 3, 2014
— The Joint Commission has released Proposed Revisions to Diagnostic Imaging Services, which will change the standards that are essential to nuclear medicine and, if approved, could have a detrimental effect on the industry as a whole.

Jul 24, 2014
— Recently, NTP Radioisotopes experienced a minor operational incident at their manufacturing facility, and their Nuclear Regulator instructed them to not proceed with any operation until they had the opportunity to review the situation. NTP moved up their scheduled two week maintenance period to minimize the impact of the current situation.

Jul 1, 2014
— CMS has released instructions to Medicare Administrative Contractors regarding the processing of claims pursuant to the June 11, 2013 final decision to end the coverage with evidence development (CED) requirement for certain FDG PET studies for solid tumors.

Jun 27, 2014
— On June 24, SNMMI received the 2014 Creating New Beginnings Awards for its donations and efforts to Shelter House, Inc. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) recognized both Shelter House and SNMMI and entered their names into the Congressional Record of the 113th Congress.

May 16, 2014
— CMS updated its interpretive guidelines and survey procedures for Medicare Condition of Participation in December 2013. The Joint Commission determined that two standards of performance for deemed status hospitals were needed. The changes will be postponed until July 2015.

May 8, 2014
— On May 7, 2014, CMS released the Final Rule for Part II Regulatory Provisions to Promote Program Efficiency, Transparency, and Burden Reduction. This new rule finalized the previously proposed change of removing the term “direct" from the current requirement at § 482.53(b)(1).

Apr 29, 2014
— All remaining Kinevac inventory has been depleted, resulting in an “Out of Stock” situation by April 30. Bracco anticipates any remaining customer orders, where product has been allocated and held at their warehouse, may be shipped within the next few weeks. All unfulfilled orders will remain on the back order list.

Apr 4, 2014
— SHINE Medical Technologies, Inc. announced that it has entered into a strategic long-term supply agreement with GE Healthcare, a division of the General Electric Company, for supply of molybdenum-99 (moly-99).

Mar 31, 2014
— On March 31, 2014, the Senate voted to pass H.R. 4302 the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. This legislation makes permanent changes to how physicians are paid by connecting it to appropriate use criteria.

Mar 28, 2014
— Bracco has a limited supply of Kinevac in inventory. Bracco will continue to partially fulfill back orders aligned with the inventory on hand. An ‘Out of Stock’ situation is anticipated by the end of April.

Mar 28, 2014
— The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) selected two SNMMI members to fill open seats on the Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI). They are Vasken Dilsizian, M.D., as Nuclear Cardiologist and Philip Alderson, M.D., as Health Care Administrator.

Mar 21, 2014
— Bracco has a limited supply of Kinevac in inventory. Customer shipments are underway in an effort to meet patient needs. Bracco will continue to partially fulfill back orders aligned with the inventory on hand.

Mar 14, 2014
— Bracco received a limited supply of Kinevac and has begun shipping product to customers this week. Kinevac inventory will continue to be rationed until such time manufacturing meets a ‘routine’ production schedule and Bracco inventory is replenished.

Mar 7, 2014
— Jubilant DraxImage has determined that a onetime market price adjustment on MAA and DTPA is required. This market –wide pricing adjustment will take effect on March 1st 2014 to support ongoing sustainability and continuity of these critical products in the US.

Mar 7, 2014
— A limited supply of Kinevac will be commercially available and shipped to Bracco. Initially, all back orders will be partially fulfilled. Bracco inventory will continue to be rationed until inventory is replenished.

Feb 12, 2014
— The Department of Energy released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for targeted radiochemistry and associated technology development for integrated nuclear medicine research and training with human application.

Feb 11, 2014
— The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is making up to $90 million available to support a series of large pragmatic clinical studies designed to advance patient-centered outcomes research under “real world” conditions. A webinar is scheduled for February 28 from 2:30pm-3:30pm. Applicants must submit letters of intent no later than 5 p.m. Friday, March 7 for the funding.

Jul 2, 2013
— SNMMI held a webinar to review and discuss the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final PET coverage decision to end coverage with evidence development (CED) for NOPR-covered FDG PET indications (CAG-00181R4), that was released on Tuesday, June 11th, 2013.

Jun 28, 2013
— James "Jim" Kearney Langan, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, a 40-plus year employee of the Department of Radiology at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, passed away peacefully at his home in Catonsville, Md., on June 25, 2013.

Apr 2, 2013
— Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, announced on March 14 the appointment of Alexander (Sandy) McEwan, MD, as a member of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for a 5-y term.

Feb 7, 2013
— Dr. Bennett S. Greenspan, Professor in the Department of Radiology at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University, has received the 2013 President’s Award for outstanding contributions and meritorious service to the American College of Nuclear Medicine.

— Metastatic breast cancers positive for HER2 receptor expression can be effectively imaged with Cu-64 DOTA-trastuzumab, traditionally used as a therapeutic drug, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine .

— Homing in on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in metastatic ovarian cancer with SPECT could gauge response to therapy and potentially improve survival, according to a study published Sept. 12 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.